Research and Interests
Chats and Conversations
How often does someone look back on their life and say, "If' I'd only known . . . ." As a professor it is hoped that students will listen to the advice we have to offer. However, it has been my observation and at times my experience, that advice will actually resonate for a student when it comes from a guest artist, even though the topic may have been covered previously in class or in a production environment. And although I've worked professionally, I am first and foremost an educator, so I thought I'd go to the source and talk to those that have been there, done that and continue to work in their chosen craft.
The personal journey, insight and advice may come from actors, directors, a designer, a screenwriter and others from NYC to L.A. and in-between that work within the theatre and entertainment industry. I've included transcripts of our conversation and when available, audio and/or video links.
To access Chats and Conversations, click HERE!
Hope the Firefly
Based upon the children's stories, Hope the Firefly and Dancing with Daisy written by Cindy Taft, this delightful adaptation follows "Hope" and her family of forest friends on a journey of collaboration, friendship, trust and hope.
To read the script and check out a couple of sound cues click HERE!
If the script should be of interest to your organization feel free to contact me at: steve.taft@uni.edu
The Theatre in YOU
Another Introduction to Theatre textbook? Seriously? Is another such text really necessary? These may be questions asked by academic professionals that teach such a fine arts offering at their institution.
My approach has been to focus less on the academic aspect of theatre and to ask, how may this text be relevant to and of use to the student? To answer this question I embraced the following"
"Increasingly in this 21st century, what you know is far less important than what you can do with what you know." - Tony Wagner
I invite you to click HERE and read on.
Storybook Christmas
As songwriting is my first artistic love, I decided a few years ago to embrace what I know best, the theatre, in order to reveal this hidden musical and lyrical side of me. The result was Storybook Christmas: A Musical Christmas Carol. The show premiered in December 2014 at the Oster Regent Theatre, home of the Cedar Falls Community Theater (CFCT) and played to over 1700 patrons! It was by all measures a success. It was the first original production produced by CFCT in the history of the organization. The talented cast was led by Gary Kroeger, former SNL cast member and veteran of television, film and theatre.
To read the script, listen to a medley of the music and to find out more, click HERE!
More Research & Interests
It's fair to say my interests are varied. Here you will find an excerpt from Tutors to Panthers, (a history of athletics at UNI and my chapter on UNI baseball), a brief description of FDR Speaks, (a theatrical docudrama regarding our 32nd President), a class developed years ago entitled, "Arts, Ethics, and the Athlete, the music of Austin Taft and finally, gain access to several short children's stories written by Cindy Taft. Yes, I'm guility of plugging those I believe in whether it's family, a friend or former students.
Click HERE for more research and interests.
Marc Breaux: Choreographer, Dancer, Director, Actor
You may not know the name, but chances are you've seen the work of this kind, creative and generous gentleman, Marc Breaux (1924-2013). A veteran of Broadway, television and film, Marc Breaux is best known for his choreographic work in such films as Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Happliest Millionaire and a host of television and Broadway productions.
In the summer of 1999 interviews were conducted with a few of Marc's friends and collaborators such as Dick Van Dyke, Richard Sherman, Leslie Ann Warrn, Michael Kidd, Andy Williams, Kaye Ballard and others. A few are available on this site in addition to various photos from Marc's life and career.
To learn more, click HERE!
(Marc Breaux sketch by Peter Menefee - 1964)
The Nursery Rhyme Collection
Did you ever wonder why Jack fell down after he and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water? And what is it with the little old lady that lives in a shoe with a ton of kids? Why is Jack Horner sticking his thumb into a pie? As adults we may have an entirely different perspective of the nursery rhymes we may have read or heard as children. Nursery rhymes are an excellent place to start to gain a bit of insight into the playwriting process, developing given circumstances and dialogue and perhaps have a little creative fun in the process.
In this assignment "option" for students in a freshman-level Introduction to Theatre course, the student selects a nursery rhyme to serve as a starting point and an inspiration in developing the given circumstances of their selected nursery rhyme by creating a narrative detailing what we know and what we are about to know about the characters, place, situation and more. Creating dialogue is a requirement of the assignment.
The stories in this section are a sampling of student work, their imaginations, and the unexpected outcome that sometimes is the result of being creative. Click HERE to read their work.
A Creative Pre-show Announcement
Years ago I had the pleasure to direct The Odd Couple at the Old Creamery Theatre in Amana, Iowa. As is the custom in this 21st century, theatre organizations most often include a "pre-show announcement" with the primary intent of asking patrons to turn off their cell phones.
I asked Jonesy McElroy, a talented actor with the company, if he would use his voice-over talents to create an innovative announcement that would address the cell phone message, entertain our patrons, and establish the time period of the show. He was kind enough to do so.
Click HERE to listen to this creative pre-show announcement and to hear Jonesy's voice-over reel featuring some characters you may know.